Integrated headset-case for wireless phones

ABSTRACT

An assembly comprised of a case for protecting a mobile wireless phone with a retractable headset device installed in an integral pocket. Openings in the case are provided for extending a connector cable that is plugged into the wireless phone, and for retractably extracting an earphone segment. The earphone cable segment is extracted for use when using the wireless phone in a hands-free scenario, and retracted when the assembly is to be stored.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/188,753, filed Mar. 7, 2000, entitled IntegratedHeadset-Case; and Ser. No. 60/206,416, filed May 23, 2000, entitledIntegrated Headset-Case.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The disclosed invention is classified as a means for storing andmanaging a hands-free adapter that is used with various types ofwireless and cordless phones. Specifically, a variety of methods forattaching a spring-retractable headset or wireless headset to a mobilewireless or cordless phone are described.

[0004] 2. Discussion of Prior Art

[0005] Advances in miniaturization and optimization of wirelesstransceiver semiconductors, as well as innovation in digital signalprocessing have resulted in the reduction of the cost of wireless phonehardware and service. At the same time, the quality of wirelesstelephony in terms of both ubiquity of service and sound quality isincreasing. This cost reduction and simultaneous increase in quality isdriving rapid growth in the use of mobile wireless telephony. Users nowcommonly access wireless telephony service in a wide variety of settingsand environments including use in the car, when walking or exercising,at work, and in the home. While wireless mobile telephony is a greatconvenience, there is often the need to be able to use the service whileengaged in an activity that occupies the user's hands, such as whiledriving. Hands-free adapters have been created that provide the abilityto engage in conversation while using the mobile wireless telephonysystem when driving. These systems typically involve an external speakerand microphone system. Hands-free headsets have been in use for sometime that are comprised of a cable with a connector at one end and anearphone and microphone assembly at the other end. These hands-freeheadsets are popular because they allow the user to operate the mobilewireless device without using the hands, and also maintain a privateconversation. When using the hands-free headset, the phone can be storedin a user's pocket or attached to the belt with a belt-clip accessory.In addition to belt clips, there are other devices and accessories thatallow the user to attach the wireless phone to their body while thephone is or is not in use. One popular accessory for wireless phones arefabric or leather soft cases FIG. 5 that protect the phone from abrasivedamage while providing a belt clip, strap, or other attachment system.

[0006] Retractable headsets have been invented that allow the user tomanually or automatically retract headset cables into housings for thepurpose of eliminating the tangling of headset cables. Wireless personalarea network (PAN) systems have appeared that incorporate short rangewireless communication transceivers such as Bluetooth technology,provided by Ericsson of Stockholm, Sweden. PAN systems allow for awireless link between a wireless phone and the user's ear. With both thePAN solution and the retractable headset solution, there remains theinconvenience for the user of having to manage another device inaddition to the wireless phone. One solution to this problem isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,656 to Thornton, showing a retractableheadset that is permanently incorporated into the wireless phonehousing. However, headset cables often become snagged and are otherwisein harms way and can be damaged to the point of inoperability. If theheadset cable were to cease to function, the phone itself would have tobe sent for repair which would greatly inconvenience the user.Furthermore, the size of the mobile phone is permanently increased bythe integration of the retraction device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,089 toChen shows a retractable that is attachable to a wireless phone with aplastic bracket. This attachment scheme requires a separate piece ofhardware to further attach the wireless phone to the user's body.Furthermore, this attachment scheme does not serve to protect the user'sphone from damage, and is not operable with a case that substantiallycovers and protects the user's phone housing. In order to implement thisdesign, there must be sufficient mechanical attachment features on thephone. Since there are a number of phone manufacturers in the market,this solution may not be viable for many or all of the various phonemodels.

[0007] What is needed is an integrated solution that provides forconvenient hands-free capability for mobile wireless phone users thatdoesn't result in the need to physically keep track of a device inaddition to the mobile wireless phone.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0008] The present invention exemplifies a new and unobvious art of anintegrated headset case. Briefly and generally, the integrated headsetcase provides for the ability to removably couple a hands-freeearphone/microphone solution to a mobile wireless phone. A hands-freeheadset device, such as a retractable headset device is integrated intoa protective covering case for a wireless phone.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

[0009] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the presentinvention are: (a) to provide an attachment of a hands-free solution toa mobile wireless phone that simultaneously provides a protectivecovering for the phone. (b) to provide an attachment of a hands-freesolution to a mobile wireless phone that simultaneously incorporates ameans for attaching the phone to the user. (c) To provide a means forattaching a hands-free solution to a mobile wireless phone that does notrequire specific mechanical attachment features on the phone.

LIST OF DRAWING FIGURES

[0010]FIG. 1 shows a conventional headset cable.

[0011]FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of the retractable headset.

[0012]FIG. 3 shows an exploded view from above of a retractable headsetmechanism.

[0013]FIG. 4 shows an exploded view from below of a retractable headsetmechanism.

[0014]FIG. 5 shows a variety of soft cases for wireless (cellular)phones.

[0015]FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of a retractable mechanismintegrated with a soft case.

[0016]FIG. 7 shows an isometric view of a retractable mechanismintegrated with a soft case with the earphone attached.

[0017]FIG. 8 shows a section view of a retractable mechanism integratedwith a soft case.

[0018]FIG. 9 shows a view of a minimal pocket for holding theretractable mechanism.

[0019]FIG. 10 shows a view of a minimal pocket for holding theretractable mechanism.

[0020]FIG. 11 shows a soft case with a transparent attachment strap.

[0021]FIG. 12 shows an isometric view of a sewn pocket with a cup strapand a strap.

[0022]FIG. 13 shows a rear isometric view of a sewn pocket with a cupstrap and a strap.

[0023]FIG. 14 shows a wireless headset device installed in theintegrated headset case.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] 1. Describe Existing Non-retracting Headset Assembly.

[0025]FIG. 1 shows a conventional headset cable assembly 10. Headsetcable assemblies 10 such as these are used with cordless and wirelessphones 50. Headset cable assembly 10 typically includes an earphone 16,and a microphone 12. These components are connected mechanically andelectrically by the headset cable 8. Headset cable 8 is aplastic-coated, wound assembly of conductors and insulators such thatearphone 16 and microphone 12 are functionally connected to a connector4, which is plugged into a wireless phone 50. Headset cable assemblies10 are used by plugging connector 4 into a receptacle in wireless phone50, and placing earphone 16 in a user's ear. Microphone 12 captures theuser's speech because it is spaced away from earphone 16 such that it isin proximity to the user's mouth. Earphone 16 and microphone 12 may bein separate housings, such as the design shown in FIG. 1, or they may beintegrated into one single housing, such as the design shown in FIG. 9.The design and manufacture of headset cable assemblies 10 such as thatshown in FIG. 1 are well known in the field of mobile wirelesscommunications and will not be addressed here in further detail.

[0026] 2. Describe Retracting Headset Assembly.

[0027]FIG. 2 shows an automatically retractable headset device 14 forautomatically rewinding headset cable assembly 10. A connector cablesegment 6 with connector 4 attached non-retractably extends from oneopening. An earphone cable segment 10 with microphone 12 and earphone 16extends from a second opening. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show alternate explodedviews of retractable headset device 14, including a top housing 24 and abottom housing 28 that contain and constrain a slip-ring mechanism formaintaining constant electrical continuity of the circuits in connectorcable segment 6 and earphone cable segment 10 regardless of therotational position of the spool 40. Top housing 24, bottom housing 28,spool 40, and the release button 44 are manufactured byinjection-molding plastic. A printed-circuit board 52 is positioned nextto bottom housing 28 and includes the three circular, concentric,conductive traces 60 a, b, and c. Each of three conductive traces 60 arefurther connected by conductive traces to connector wire solderconnections 68 a, b, and c that are soldered to corresponding circuitsin connector cable segment 6. A power spring 32 is used to drive spool40 to rotate relative to top housing 24 and bottom housing 28 such thatearphone cable segment 10 is wound on spool 40. The three spring wipercontacts 56 a, b, and c are attached to spool 40 and aligned so thatwhen spool 40 rotates, spring wiper contacts 56 a, b, and c are alwaysin conductive contact with corresponding concentric conductive traces 60a, b, and c. The corresponding three circuits on the earphone cablesegment 10 terminate at spring wiper contacts 56 a, b, and c. Aratchet-lock system is controlled by release button 44 that isexternally accessible to the user. Spool 40 includes the ratchet teeth36 that engage with a ratchet arm 38 when earphone cable segment 10 isreleased by the user, prohibiting spool 40 from rotating. Release button44 pivots about a release button pivot 46 captured between top housing24 and bottom housing 28. Ratchet arm 38 is forced to engage withratchet teeth 36 by button return spring 48. Likewise, when the userpulls on earphone cable segment 10 to extract it, the angle of ratchetarm 38 allows it glide over ratchet teeth 36 without engaging. Thus,there is a constant electrical connection made between the functionalcircuits connected to earphone 16 and microphone 12, and thecorresponding contacts at connector 4, regardless of where spool 40 isrotationally positioned. The ratchet-lock system allows spool 40 to bestopped and fixed at practically any point in the rotation of spool 40,that is, the user can extract any length of earphone cable segment 10and earphone cable segment 10 will stay fixed at that extraction lengthuntil release button 44 is pressed to release the ratchet-lock system.Slip-ring designs such as the one described herein are well known in thefield of electrical and mechanical design, and specifically, inretractable headset design. With the knowledge that is in the publicdomain, combined with that included in this disclosure, it would bepossible for one skilled in the art of headset design to implement afunctional unit.

[0028] 3. Describe Phone Case Design.

[0029]FIG. 5 shows a variety of soft cases that are commonly available.These cases FIG. 5 are manufactured by sewing together cut materialssuch as leather, nylon fabric and include leather cases 18 with beltclips 98, leather or nylon fabric cases with transparent film faces 22,and neoprene cases 26. FIG. 5 also shows a flip-type case 30 forwireless phone 50. FIG. 6 and FIG. 8 show an integrated case 40 withretractable headset device 14 installed in a pocket 84. Integrated case40 is manufactured by sewing together cut sections of two-waystretchable woven nylon fabric. Integrated case 40 is constructed sothat it is open at the top so that wireless phone 50 can be inserted. Aflap 80 that is part of integrated case 40 is pulled over the top ofwireless phone 50 and secured with Velcro 96. This type of constructionand manufacturing method is well known in the accessory cover or casedesign field. FIG. 8, a section view, shows that internal pocket 84 issewn onto the rear inside surface of integrated case 40. FIG. 6 showsthat pocket 84 is a square section of fabric. Pocket 84 is sewn ontointegrated case 40 along the bottom and side edges, is open at the top,and is sized so that retractable headset device 14 can be easily fitinto pocket 84 with minimal stretching of pocket 84. It should be notedthat pocket 84 could also be sewn against the outside rear surface ofintegrated case 40.

[0030]FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 further show that the construction of integratedcase 40 with flap 80 over the top, allows for a cable outlet 92 aopening so that earphone cable segment 10 can extend outside ofintegrated case 40. Connector cable segment 6 extends through a cableoutlet 92 b on the other side of integrated case 40. Connector cablesegment 6 is shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 as extending down the side ofintegrated case 40, where it terminates in connector 4 that is pluggedinto wireless phone 50. Integrated case 40 further includes a releasebutton access hole 74 that provides access to release button 44 whenretractable headset device 14 is installed in integrated case 40. FIG. 7shows that a molded plastic earphone holder 88 is sewn onto the side ofintegrated case 40. Earphone holder 88 includes a gap feature that issized so that the narrow stem of earphone 16 can be fixedly placed intothe gap. Earphone holder 88 securely holds earphone 16 when earphonecable segment is 10 is fully retracted, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0031] Integrated case also includes a belt clip 98, designated by thedotted line in FIG. 6. Belt clip 98 is not shown in detail because theuse and design of this feature is well known and so as not to obscurepresent invention.

[0032] Although the description above contains many specificities, theseshould not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, butmerely providing illustration of some of the presently preferredembodiments of this invention. FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show a design for aminimal pocket 84 that contains the retractable headset device 14 whenthe pocket 84 is attached to the wireless phone 50. In this embodiment,the pocket 80 is constructed out of a two-way stretchable nylon fabric.There is a rigid backing plate 120 that the strap 100 and thestretchable fabric are attached to. This rigid backing plate 120 is aflat or slightly curved plastic sheet made by injection-molding orthermo-forming plastic. There is a strap 100 that is fed through a metalloop 104 and pulled back onto itself so that the strap 100 may be pulledtight against the wireless phone 50. The strap 100 is secured withVelcro 96 against itself. The strap 100 is a woven non-stretchablefabric such as woven nylon strapping. There may also be an elastomericstrip 116 along the inside of the strap 100 so that when the strap 100is pulled tight, there is a large amount of friction between the insideof the strap 100 and the wireless phone 50. This friction prohibits thepocket 84 system from sliding off of the wireless phone 50.

[0033]FIG. 11 shows a minimal pocket 84 design that incorporates a widerstrap 100 with a transparent film 108 section that allows visual accessto the wireless phone 50 display. The wider strap 100 allows for secureattachment.

[0034]FIG. 11 shows a design where the pocket 84 and integrated case 40are one homogeneous injection-molded part. The material is aninjection-moldable elastomer such as Dynaflex, manufactured by GLSCorporation of McHenry, Ill. The design in FIG. 11 may or may notinclude a plastic transparent film 108 that covers the wireless phone 50display. The advantage of having the sheet is that the display isprotected from being scratched. The transparent film 108 sheet alsoincreases the stiffness of the elastomeric straps 100 that wrap aroundthe wireless phone 50. In this embodiment where the elastomeric straps100 fix the integrated case 40 to the wireless phone 50, the length ofeach of the elastomeric strap 100 portions of the design is shorter thanthe total outer section distance around the wireless phone 50. Thereforethe elastomeric straps 100 must be stretched around the wireless phone50 and fact that they are made of a higher friction elastomericmaterial, means that the friction of the straps 100 against the phone ishigh and this prohibits the pocket and integrated case 40 from slippingoff of the wireless phone 50. In the integrated case 40 embodimentsdisclosed in FIG. 9 through FIG. 12, the retractable headset device 50is designed with the release button 44 configured on the top of thedevice, so that the release button access hole 74 in the side of thepocket 84 would not be required.

[0035]FIG. 14 shows a wireless hands-free headset device 54 installed inintegrated case 40. A wireless hands-free headset device 54 is a systemthat includes a wireless communication link 132 between a basetransceiver 124 and an integrated earphone/microphone module 128. Thiswireless communication link 132 could be a Bluetooth system as describedabove, or it could be a 900 Mhz system that is commonly used in cordlessphone systems. Both the base transceiver 124 and the earphone/microphonemodule 128 contain a battery power supply. The base transceiver 124includes a connector cable segment 6 that plugs into the headset port onthe wireless phone 50. The wireless hands-free headset device 54 is atwo-way communication system that functions like a hands-free headsetexcept with no cable. The operation of short range wireless systems suchas this are known in the field of wireless communication and will not bedescribed here in detail.

[0036] It should be noted that the disclosed invention of an integratedheadset case can be implemented with audio headphones rather than aheadset with an earphone and a microphone. An integrated headphone casewith a retractable headphone device can be implemented for use withportable audio playback devices such as MP3 players, minidisk players,AM/FM radios, and CD players without departing from the new andunobvious art disclosed above.

[0037] Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by theappended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examplesgiven.

I claim:
 1. A case for an electronic device comprising in combination, aremovable pliable cover, a pocket for removably containing a hands-freedevice, an opening in said cover for accessing said hands-free deviceearphone and connector.
 2. The electronic device in claim 1 wherein saiddevice is a wireless phone and said earphone assembly includes amicrophone.
 3. The case in claim 1 wherein said pliable cover includes aflap for covering an opening through which a wireless phone isinstalled.
 4. The case in claim 1 where said pliable cover includes anopening for accessing a release button.
 5. The case in claim 1 whereinsaid hands-free device is a wireless headset.
 6. The electronic devicein claim 1 wherein said device is a portable audio playing device andsaid hands-free device is a stereo headphone.
 7. The removable pliablecover in claim 1 wherein said cover includes a belt clip.
 8. Theremovable pliable cover in claim 1 wherein said cover is fabricated outof leather.
 9. The removable pliable cover in claim 1 wherein said coveris injection-molded out of elastomeric material.
 10. The removablepliable cover in claim 1 wherein said cover is comprised of segments oftwo-way stretchable nylon fabric.
 11. A method for using a hands-freedevice with an electronic device: a. Covering a electronic device with apliable case. b. Installing a retractable headset device in a pocket insaid pliable case. c. Extracting an earphone cable segment from saidretractable device. d. Listening to the audible output of said earphonecable segment.
 12. The electronic device in claim 11 wherein saidelectronic device is a wireless phone and said earphone assemblyincludes a microphone.
 13. The case in claim 11 wherein said pliablecover includes a flap for covering an opening through which a wirelessphone is installed.
 14. The case in claim 11 wherein said pliable coverincludes an opening for accessing a release button.
 15. The case inclaim 11 where in said hands-free device is a wireless headset.
 16. Theelectronic device in claim 11 wherein said device is a portable audioplaying device and said hands-free device is a stereo headphone.
 17. Theremovable pliable cover in claim 11 wherein said cover is fabricated outof leather.
 18. The removable pliable cover in claim 11 wherein saidcover is injection-molded out of elastomeric material.
 19. The removablepliable cover in claim 11 wherein said cover is comprised of segments oftwo-way stretchable nylon fabric.
 20. A system for using a mobilewireless phone without holding said phone in close proximity to the ear,comprising in combination, a portable wireless phone, a pliable case forcovering said wireless phone, a pocket integral to said case withopenings for extending a connector segment and an earphone cablesegment, a retractable headset device for listening to the audibleoutput of said wireless phone, where said retractable device is placedin said pocket.